The Evaluation and Reporting of Soils in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems - Soils and Food Security - page 69

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The Evaluation and Reporting
of Soils in Sustainable
Agriculture and Food Systems

ALFRED E. HARTEMINK* a , AMANDA L. RASTER b

AND

MOLLY M. JAHN c

a Department of Soil Science, FD Hole Soils Lab, University of Wisconsin,
1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA; b Department of
Horticulture, University of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI
53706, USA; c Laboratory of Genetics and Department of Agronomy,
University of Wisconsin, 425 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA
*E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail] or [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Sustainable agriculture has been on the global agenda for several
decades now. Because soil is of critical importance in meeting the goals
and objectives of sustainable agriculture, there is a need to assess and
evaluate the soil under different agricultural and food systems. Here we
present an overview of measurement tools and reporting standards that
are currently being used in the USA and globally. We describe three
measurement tools used primarily in the USA, followed by a review of
eight USA standards and twelve standards that have international
applications. These standards and metrics encompass a range of
sustainability criteria such as soil and water conservation and quality,
crop nutrient management, energy conservation and greenhouse gas